Annihilator

Canadian thrashers Annihilator are the lifework of guitarist Jeff Waters, who founded the band in 1984 -- just as the speed metal revolution was getting underway further to the south in the San Francisco Bay Area. Due in large part to this geographical isolation, Annihilator as a band phased in and out of existence over the next few years, with only Waters as a constant factor, but when the driven guitarist's homemade demos finally made it into the hands of Roadrunner Records, the band's career was ready to begin.

Released to positively wild public and critical acclaim at the height of the thrash metal boom, Annihilator's 1989 debut, Alice in Hell, was an unqualified triumph and epitomized the state of the art in terms of thinking man's thrash metal, but it was hardly a band effort. Indeed, though they are pictured on the sleeve alongside Waters (who wrote, produced, and played guitar and bass on the entire album), vocalist Randy Rampage (formerly bassist with legendary Vancouver hardcore band D.O.A.), drummer Ray Hartmann, bassist Wayne Darley, and second guitarist Anthony Greenham were little more than hired guns. Not surprisingly, both Rampage and Greenham were gone by the release of the following year's Never, Neverland (replaced by the equally improbably named Coburn Pharr and Dave Scott Davis, respectively), the beginning of a revolving-door policy that would elevate Annihilator's musician turnover to Spinal Tap heights.

In any event, though not quite as inspired as its predecessor, Never, Neverland did decent business and the band's latest lineup capitalized by touring relentlessly behind it. A three-year delay and more lineup changes preceded 1993's Set the World on Fire, however, and the album's shocking move to adopt more traditional metal and commercial hard rock sounds wound up alienating most of Annihilator's fans, sending their popularity into a tailspin. Roadrunner issued 1994's Bag of Tricks compilation and promptly dropped the band, which quickly resurfaced with a new deal and several albums on Music for Nations (1994's King of the Kill, 1996's Refresh the Demon, 1997's Remains) but never again enjoyed anything similar to their original success -- despite Waters' retreat to thrashier terrain.

Released in 1999, Criteria for a Black Widow reunited the guitarist with both Roadrunner and old singer Rampage, but subsequent albums like 2001's Carnival Diablos, 2003's Waking the Fury, and 2004's All for You marked a return to Annihilator's unpredictable musical about-faces and personal musical chairs. Waters returned with Annihilator's 11th studio album, Schizo Deluxe, in 2005 with vocals supplied by Dave Padden, who had previously worked on 2004's All for You. Padden continued as vocalist on the band's 12th release, 2007's Metal, on which Waters had assembled an all-star cast -- including In Flames' Jesper Strömblad, Trivium's Corey Beaulieu, and Anvil's Steve Kudlow -- to perform. Waters and Padden continued their partnership on 2010's self-titled release and returned once again in 2013 for Annihilator's 14th studio album, Feast. Padden would leave the group the following year, allowing Waters to assume lead vocal duties on 2015's Suicide Society. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia

whats up with everyone talkin s**t about this music talent? do you s**t heads still live in your moms basement fisting your a**holes to papa roach? Cause i guess thats what real metal is nowadays for f**got a** kids that cant respect classic old school sounds....what a f**king disgrace

3 years ago

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riverman172

Jeff waters is sooooo under rated.

3 years ago

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dwoodzz

@bobsmith5-since high school?! did you get left behind 20 years? If you are 72 now that makes you like 30 in '82-wtf!?

Love that band !!! Jeff is the real deal. Liked all Anniholator except the latest stuff with the new singer. I prefer Jeff's singing over the latest singer ... Met Jeff after a show in a small bar in Montreal called the backstreet for the Set the world on Fire tour. He took the time to get pictures with us and sign stuff. Really down to earth dude !! ANNIHILATOR RULES !

What happened to the comments on here? Recently purchased Alice in Hell/Neverland two from the vault. The purchase was a real bargain but was curious as to why Jeff Waters decided it a good idea to combine them when he would lose revenue rather than selling them separate. Love the artwork of the young girl and dolls. More frightening than Vic Rattlehead.

Holy cow, Bats in the Belfy is just as bad. What are you all seeing that I'm not?

5 years ago

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jdparadise

The Edge may be the single worst song from the 80s that I've heard since Unskinny Bop.

5 years ago

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warkosy

Jeff Waters is a SICK guitar player! ! ! Love this band, saw 'em once on the KOTK tour! GREAT SHOW! ! ! ! Been into them since about '91 or so, right after NNL came out. Their older stuff is killer, newer stuff is still decent.

Best Canadian metal band, vocals remind me of a harsh Rob Halford. I agree, Ozzy sucks since leaving Sabbath. Jeff should just call the band Waters and get some studio guys to play on tour with him, his vocals are his weak spot and hes not bad doing that too. Megatalent Waters.

5 years ago

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jslats0341

Does anyone else think that the vocals sound similar to Dave Mustaine?